World News
Q3 Was the Most Dangerous Quarter for Global Shipping: Windward
US-military-facilitated passage since mid-July averaged 23 ships over the third quarter. Image Credit: Winward
Global shipping faced its most dangerous quarter in recent history in Q3, as attacks on merchant ships increased across the Gulf and Black Sea, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward.
Iran attacked 45 ships in the Gulf during the quarter, up from 25 in Q2 2026, the firm said in its emailed Q3 2026 report on Thursday.
In the Black Sea, about 86 ships came under attack, nearly four times the number recorded during the first half of 2026.
Six seafarers were killed, including four in the Black Sea and two in the Strait of Hormuz.
Shipping through Hormuz also remained heavily affected.
UK Maritime Trade Operations-recorded transits rose from about 16/day in late July to 31 in late September, but more than half of September transits were not visible on AIS.
Piracy also picked up, with five hijacking attempts recorded off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, compared with two in Q2.
Windward also counted 613 falsely flagged ships in Q3, 39% more than in January, while 124,235 vessels were affected by GPS jamming during the quarter.
Key Bunker Prices More
| VLSFO | MGO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $/mt | +/- | $/mt | +/- | |
| Singapore | 896.00 | 6.00 | 1254.50 | 11.50 |
| Rotterdam | 692.00 | 9.50 | 1333.00 | 7.00 |
| Houston | 754.50 | 9.00 | 1398.50 | 28.50 |
| Fujairah | 984.50 | 5.00 | 1686.00 | 9.50 |
| Global 20 Ports Average | 884.50 | 8.00 | 1508.00 | 8.00 |
| Global 4 Ports Average | 831.50 | 7.00 | 1418.00 | 10.50 |
| Global Average Bunker Price | 937.00 | 6.50 | 1573.50 | 6.50 |
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